# How long do UK professional, scientific and technical companies take to pay suppliers?

Large UK professional, scientific and technical companies take a median of 30 days to pay supplier invoices, 1 days faster than the UK median of 31 days. The sector ranks 10 of 18, where 1 is the slowest payer.

Figures cover large UK companies paying all their suppliers.

- Median days to pay: 30 (UK: 31)
- Slowest-paying rank: 10 of 18
- Invoices paid late, median company: 16%
- Insolvencies, England and Wales, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026: 1,913
- Companies: 595

## Findings

- How many invoices are paid late? At the median company, 16% of invoices are paid late, 1 point above the UK figure of 15%.
- How long do most take? The middle half of companies pay in 22 to 43 days. A quarter take longer than 43 days.
- How many invoices go past 60 days? 5% of invoices take more than 60 days at the median company, against 5% across the UK.
- How many companies became insolvent? 1,913 professional, scientific and technical companies became insolvent in England and Wales over Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, rank 5 of 18 by number of cases. This is a count, not a rate.

## Where does professional, scientific and technical rank?

1. Manufacturing pays in a median of 45 days.
2. Water, sewerage and waste pays in a median of 37 days.
3. Wholesale and retail trade pays in a median of 37 days.
4. Accommodation and food service pays in a median of 36 days.
5. Transport and storage pays in a median of 35 days.
6. Construction pays in a median of 33 days.
7. Mining and quarrying pays in a median of 32 days.
8. Agriculture, forestry and fishing pays in a median of 31 days.
9. Other service activities pays in a median of 31 days.
10. Professional, scientific and technical pays in a median of 30 days.
11. Information and communication pays in a median of 29 days.
12. Arts, entertainment and recreation pays in a median of 28 days.
13. Administrative and support services pays in a median of 27 days.
14. Real estate pays in a median of 26.5 days.
15. Electricity and gas supply pays in a median of 26 days.
16. Human health and social work pays in a median of 26 days.
17. Education pays in a median of 25 days.
18. Financial and insurance pays in a median of 22 days.

## Which professional, scientific and technical trades pay slowest?

Advertising agencies is the slowest trade at 44 days. Management consultancy activities other than financial management is the fastest at 25.5 days.

| SIC | Trade | Median days | Middle half | Paid late | Firms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73110 | Advertising agencies | 44 | 23 to 61.5 | 14% | 59 |
| 72190 | Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering | 37.5 | 27 to 49.2 | 15% | 32 |
| 70100 | Activities of head offices | 32 | 22 to 44 | 16.5% | 252 |
| 74909 | Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c. | 30 | 22 to 37.8 | 14% | 65 |
| 71129 | Other engineering activities | 26 | 20.5 to 32.5 | 14% | 25 |
| 71122 | Engineering related scientific and technical consulting activities | 26 | 24 to 29 | 16.5% | 23 |
| 70229 | Management consultancy activities other than financial management | 25.5 | 21 to 30.8 | 10% | 38 |

Businesses that sell to professional, scientific and technical companies can compare these figures with their own debtor days. Paidnice is [UK credit control software](https://www.paidnice.com/credit-control-software) that sends reminders and adds late fees on overdue invoices in Xero or QuickBooks. See [Paidnice for engineering firms](https://www.paidnice.com/industries/engineering-firms) and [Paidnice for agencies](https://www.paidnice.com/industries/agencies).

## Related guides

- [UK credit control software](https://www.paidnice.com/credit-control-software)
- [Credit control for UK small businesses](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/credit-control-software-uk-small-businesses)
- [What is credit control?](https://www.paidnice.com/dictionary/credit-control)
- [UK accounts receivable statistics](https://www.paidnice.com/accounts-receivable-statistics/united-kingdom)
- [Late payment interest calculator](https://www.paidnice.com/late-payment-interest-calculator)
- [Late payment fees in the UK](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/late-payment-fees-uk)
- [The UK late payment law changes](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/commercial-payments-bill-uk-late-payment-law)
- [Accounts receivable statistics](https://www.paidnice.com/accounts-receivable-statistics)
- [Accounts receivable software](https://www.paidnice.com/accounts-receivable-software)

## Method and sources

This page reports how long large companies take to pay, from government payment filings. How long small businesses wait to be paid is a different measure on a different group of businesses, and it is on the accounts receivable statistics pages.

## Cite

Paidnice (2026). UK professional, scientific and technical payment times. https://www.paidnice.com/payment-times/uk/professional-services. Source: UK payment practices filings (March 2025 to August 2026), Companies House, Insolvency Service.